STEVE Clarke hopes to have his say on who will replace Dan Ashworth, as he paid tribute to Albion’s outgoing sporting and technical director.

Ashworth will leave The Hawthorns later this season to take up a role as the Football Association’s new Director of Elite Development.

But, before he leaves, Ashworth will help Albion find his successor.

Clarke intends to be part of that process and plans to hold talks with Ashworth and chairman Jeremy Peace in the coming days.

“First of all my first reaction was that I’m delighted for Dan,” said Clarke.

“It’s a great honour for him to be approached by the FA and asked to do that job.

“From a club point of view, and selfish point of view, it will be a big hole for the club to fill. But they’ve already started looking at candidates and we’ll work on that and try to do as good a job as we can to replace Dan.

“I haven’t sat down yet with the chairman so I will find some time to do that and discuss it with him.

“As the news came out I was thinking more about the games – we have a busy spell coming up – so there is no pressing rush for it because the move won’t be immediate.

“There is no grave rush but I would like to sit down with Dan and the chairman and discuss the way forward.

“Dan will help the club make the transition from his era to a new era and we will all work together to make sure it’s as smooth as possible and a smooth transition.”

Albion’s tiered system of employing a sporting and technical director to work in tandem with a head coach was viewed with suspicion and derision in some quarters when first implemented.

Clarke is the fourth manager or head coach to work with Ashworth, who was appointed during Tony Mowbray’s stewardship.

Mowbray was suceeded by Roberto Di Matteo in July 2009, with Roy Hodgson’s arriving some 19 months later.

Current head coach Clarke gave an insight as to why Ashworth is so valued by those who work with him.

“It’s down to honesty,” continued Clarke.

“He tells me everything he’s doing, he tells me what I need to know, he’s very open and honest.

“We have open discussions and that’s the best way to make it work.That’s his area of expertise.

“The club employ a head coach which is his area of expertise and the two should work side by side. In the short space of time I’ve worked with Dan that’s been the case.

“The influx of foreign owners and the large amount of cash means it’s becoming more and more the case that clubs want to keep control of who they’re buying and how they’re spending their money.

‘‘I think going into the future it (Albion’s system) will become more prevalent.”